Environment

Environmental protection is integral to sustainable value creation for both Zurich and society at large. As expressed in our Group Environmental Policy, we manage environmental risks and opportunities as effectively as possible through the progressive integration of environmental considerations throughout our business to minimize our direct and indirect environmental impact through continuous improvement in environmental performance.

We capture carbon emissions from our own operations on a global basis. Through a combination of cleaner energy sources, energy efficiency measures, reduced air travel, and the gradual transition of our car fleet to more fuel-efficient cars, we are already well on our way toward reaching our target of a 10 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2013, using 2007 as our base year. 

Efforts are also being made to scale up our efforts with respect to other environmental impacts, including the reduction of general waste and the consumption of energy, water and paper. In 2011, Zurich’s Group Executive Committee mandated Group Operations with the development and subsequent implementation of a global Environmental, Health & Safety policy and corresponding management system, building on and integrating existing activities throughout the Group.

Several Zurich operations have certified environmental management systems. For example, the Logistics Department of Zurich Switzerland maintains ISO 14001 certification, valid for all buildings in Switzerland. Internal specialists perform annual audits, and a third-party certifier conducts audits once a year and recertification audits every three years. Zurich in the UK has achieved IEMA Acorn Phase 3 external accreditation of the environmental management system at Fareham, offering an incremental approach towards full ISO 14001 compliance.

Zurich recognizes that environmental protection is integral to sustainable value creation for both Zurich and society. Please read the environmental policy or download the environmental policy as pdf.